High speed chase under Sky City
A man who led police on a high speed car chase through the car park under the Sky City casino in central Auckland made his getaway by smashing through a $5000 barrier arm.
But Courtney Barton’s luck ran out when police found his driver’s licence which he left behind in the car he abandoned soon after.
The 40-year-old Tokoroa man was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Wednesday, as well as given a hefty disqualification from driving which will run until February 2019.
Barton was driving a black Suzuki Swift in the early afternoon of Tuesday, August 30, 2016 on Federal St in central Auckland, when he was spotted by a police patrol.
The Suzuki was one of the many vehicles they were keeping an eye out for, as it had been involved in alleged petrol driveoffs - including one at the BP service station in Horotiu, Hamilton, on August 14.
Barton was also sentenced for his part in that on Wednesday.
The police activated their lights and sirens. Barton sped up, headed into Hobson St, and then into the car park under Sky City with the police still on his tail.
Barton sped through the car park and towards the exit onto Federal St. Blocking his way at the egress was a barrier arm.
Barton smashed his way straight through it, ripping the mechanism completely out of the ground and causing $5000 worth of damage. He zoomed out of the building and back on to Federal St.
The police lost Barton at that point. However the Suzuki was discovered a short time later in nearby Nelson St. In his haste to get away, Barton left behind his driver’s licence in the car.
He was caught and arrested some time later.
As well as the Sky City incident which led to dangerous driving and intentional damage charges, Barton was also sentenced on charges of male assaults female and threatening to kill.
Those charges arose from an incident that began at 2am on April 30 last year at Finn Maccuhal’s Irish Pub in Taupo, when he assaulted a woman, first by grabbing her hand and leading her to the dance floor.
Based on time served Barton will be eligible for release soon.